Wednesday, May 30, 2012

John Berman Joins CNN as an Anchor of Morning Show "Early Start"Berman to Also Contribute Reports to CNN Programs Across the Day

John Berman, who served as a correspondent for ABC News and regular contributor to Good Morning America, joins CNN as an anchor of the morning program Early Start and will contribute reports to various CNN programs including The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, it was announced by Ken Jautz, executive vice president of CNN.

CNN’s Early Start, which premiered on January 2, 2012 with hosts Ashleigh Banfield and Zoraida Sambolin, airs weekdays at 5 am to 7 am, ET/PT.

“We are so fortunate to have this talented and seasoned journalist join our morning show and become a regular presence on our air throughout the day. John is a skilled reporter with a passion and personality that shine through, whether he’s covering the political season or his beloved Red Sox,” said Jautz.

“John is an exceptional journalist who brings with him the perspective of having covered many of the last two decades most significant stories. His coverage of the past four Presidential elections, experience as an embedded journalist in Iraq, on-site reporting during the 2006 war in Lebanon, plus his pop culture interest and acumen, make him a strong asset to our team,” said Mark Whitaker, CNN Worldwide executive vice president and managing editor.

“It is a pleasure to join the prestigious global news leader CNN. I am looking forward to being a part of the morning team and to contributing across CNN's lineup,” said Berman.

Berman joined ABC News in 1995 and was head writer for World News Tonight with Peter Jennings from 1997 to 1999. During that time he traveled with Jennings to cover the Columbine school shooting in Colorado and to Cuba for Pope John Paul II’s historic visit. Berman was part of the World News Tonight team recognized with a 2004 Edward R. Murrow award for best broadcast.

In addition to his coverage of the presidential election seasons from 2000 through 2012, Berman reported on the Indian Ocean tsunami from Banda Aceh, Indonesia, and the steroids scandal in American sports. He has also served as regular contributor to World News with Diane Sawyer, 20/20, Nightline, and ABCNews.com. A native of Carlisle, Mass., Berman graduated from Harvard University, where he was president of Hasty Pudding Theatricals.

9 comments:

Anonymous
said...

So CNN is going on a hiring spree. Now, Let'ssee if they will hire young up and comers likeConor Knighton, Jason Silva, Max Lugavere,Marianna Van Zeller, Adam Yamaguci, ChristofPutzel, Brett Erlich , Angela Sun and other allplatform journos that Current TV let go. CNNcould use some updated styles of reporting &presentation. So what will CNN do to fix StartingPoint. Cancel breakfast with pundits. No more pundits CNN. The network is so to catch on tonews. Wolf Blitzer has just figured out that Donald Trump sounds ridiculous.

George Mark Paul Stroumboulopoulos are 4 wordswe are hoping to hear in any future CNN pressreleases on new hires.

John Berman has some really good reports for GMA.Could it be CNN is looking to be more like GMA inthe morning ? It would have to mean a format change for Early Start. Maybe CNN will bring backBetty Nguyen in the mornings too. She recentlyexited CBS.

Does this mean there will be three Early Start hosts? Early Start is not really the morning problem for CNN mornings, it's Starting Point. CNN needs to be completely revamped, especially the current failed morning. Zoraida Sambolin needs to go, she is just too boring.

It's being reported that meteorologists Renyolds Wolf and Jacqui Jeras were let go from CNN, but Rob Marciano and Chad Myers were left to stay. Not sure why CNN chose to let them go now, especially with Hurricane Season upon us. I'm glad Rob is still with CNN, but they should have kept Jacqui instead of Chad. Glad Renyolds is gone, he's too cocky.